Of all the people I enjoy to write about, whether in fiction or creative non-fiction, one of my favourite subjects has got to be my sister Julia. I’ve not really written anything about her on here, however she never ceases to be a source of amusement and inspiration writing wise. For instance this evening she came round – I had offered to have George (mum’s boyfriend’s dog) for the day, which later became an overnight stay – to drop off some food for him.
She came into the living room for general chat – and I think to make sure that he got on with the other three dogs we have here perfectly well – at around half nine at night dressed in her pajamas, thick white with spots fleece socks, her boyfriend’s slippers and a thick black wool dressing gown.
As the discussion progressed, she suddenly said to me; “I told you that I locked myself out today didn’t I?”
I shook my head, “No, I heard nothing of that.”
She held up a hand, “I just wanted to cry, you know, it was just one of those instances. First off, I’d managed to get myself and Elloise sorted and out the door today by nine o’clock. Which, I might add, is a miracle for me to get anything done by nine. I mean, we’re talking full make up and everything. Got downstairs and realised that I’d left my keys inside. I kid you not, I could have cried.
“I then knocked on downstairs glass door to see if they had a ladder to get in my balcony, she screamed at me!”
“A bit excessive,” I murmured.
“Yeah, she screamed at me, then I realised it as because she saw George, he was with me because we were taking him for a walk. I had Elloise in my arms, and I was like, “He’s OK,” she said she’d call her friend and he’ll bring one down soon. I asked how soon and she said an hour and I was like… Fuck… that, no way was I going to wait around for an hour. So I walked down the road to the house on the corner, because they’re renovating and getting an extension or something. Anyway, they had like four ladders in the garden!
“So I went and knocked on their door, they didn’t answer, so I went back up the road and knocked on the door across the road from me. She didn’t have one, so I handed her Elloise-”
“Wait, wait, wait,” I said, holding up a hand. “You handed Elloise to a random person?”
“No, I knew her… sorta… She was one of those who you pass and say hi, how you doing and stuff, you know…”
Actually, I didn’t know as I am an anti-social sort who doesn’t really talk to anyone in passing. In fact, majority of the people I see out on the street recognise me far sooner than I then. But I dutifully nodded and let her continue her story…
400 Words A Day 